Coyle looks for home comforts

Coyle looks for home comforts

Published Jan. 16, 2012 1:16 p.m. ET

It has been a hugely disappointing campaign so far for Wanderers, who find themselves 19th in the Premier League after 21 top-flight fixtures.

Their record at the Reebok Stadium has played a major role in that, showing eight defeats from 10 matches in the league, a far cry from last term when they were only beaten four times there all season.

The Trotters are in a fight for their lives, but Coyle has taken encouragement from their last few performances, which have included a 1-1 home draw with Wolves, a 2-1 victory at Everton and a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United which he felt "flattered" the hosts.

There was also the 2-2 draw at Macclesfield which set up Tuesday's contest and with two more home games - league clashes with Liverpool and Arsenal - to come straight after, Coyle feels it is especially important his team do not take their foot off the pedal against the League Two outfit.

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"Winning games breeds confidence, regardless of whether it is in the cup or league, and that is what we want to do - we want to go on a nice run," Coyle said.

"I think our form has been decent recently, and we have to look to carry that on

"We are getting into a run of games at home and we have to make sure that we are ready to do ourselves justice.

"We have taken 12 points away from home, and if we had matched that at home - which we should have done - then we would be sitting halfway up the league.

"We know that is the area we have to address. We have to make sure that at home, we are ready, as we were last year when the Reebok was a fortress.

"It can be again, but it only will be with all of us pulling in the right direction and making sure we perform at our highest level."

Coyle is planning to once again refresh his team from that which started the United game on Saturday, although not to the same extent that he did for the original tie at Moss Rose the previous weekend, where he made six changes.

Jussi Jaaskelainen has still not fully recovered from his thigh problem, so Adam Bogdan will continue in goal, while defender Gary Cahill's move to Chelsea has now been confirmed.

Speaking about Cahill this morning, Coyle said: "I think there is - as with any player - room for expansion and improvement.

"He has now gone to an elite club who have aspirations of winning every competition they enter.

"I think that will push him on to another level, and he is competing with world-class players now for his position in the team.

"He is working with a fantastic manager (Andre Villas-Boas), who I know well and is someone who wants to build a club at Chelsea. I think Gary will be a huge part of that."

With Cahill departed, Coyle is looking to bolster his defence and is optimistic the signing of New York Red Bulls' United States international Tim Ream can be sealed in "the next few days".

Meanwhile, Coyle has welcomed the announcement that a statue of Bolton legend Nat Lofthouse, who died a year ago yesterday, is to be located outside the Reebok Stadium.

"It is fantastic news," Coyle said.

"I think when you mention Bolton Wanderers, the first thing that comes into many people's thoughts is Nat Lofthouse.

"I was very fortunate to have got to know him in my time as a player, and I think it is very fitting.

"The great thing is that as we all know, in football people move on for various reasons, but that statue will be there as a permanent reminder of Nat Lofthouse and what he brought to this club."

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